Using LanguageⅠ优秀说课稿

M2 Unit 3 Computer

Period 5: Using Language

(ANDY— THE ANDROID)

Aims

To discuss about IT

To write a report about IT

To read about androids or robots

The purpose of this exercise is to encourage students to listen and then use what they have heard to help them fill in a chart about computers．It is an important exercise because it links skills together and uses them to produce a useful piece of writing．Make sure the students look at the chart before they listen to the tape．This is to sharpen their attention and listen for the answers．This will also help them get the gist of the text．When filling in the chart, the students will have to use their own experience as well as information from the listening text．

Procedures

I. Warming up by talking about IT

What is Information technology?

Information technology (IT) or information and communication technology (ICT) is the technology required for information processing. In particular the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and retrieve information from anywhere, anytime.

II. Listening and writing

Turn to page 21. Look at the pictures and listen to a conversation about different kinds of information technology or IT, discuss and write down in groups the advantages and disadvantages of each kind.

III. Speaking and writing

The purpose of this exercise is to discuss together and then decide which kind of computer you would like to buy for your school．Think about what the school needs as well as what you like．Let the students do the exercise in pairs and share their ideas with others．Finally they should write the report．Remember to say which computer you have chosen and give a reason．You should also say why you did not choose the other computers．

Suppose you and your partner are going to help choose computers for your school. Now talk about the special things each of the computer can do and write a report to your headmaster.

IV. Reading, underlining and speaking

This is a speaking activity about designing an android．The purpose of the activity is not the design but the quality of the discussion．So try to make sure each pair makes a contribution to the finished design．Then let them discuss their ideas with another pair．Perhaps that will give each pair some more ideas for their android．Finally let students share their ideas with the class．

It is said that computers could be put into androids or robots. Read the text Andy—The Android, underlining all the expressions and think of the fun you could have!

Expressions from Andy—The Android

part of a football team, once a year, get together, play a football game, be as…as…, in fat, look like…, on the football team, run fast, think like a human, shout to…, in computer language, have a good shot for a goal, get second place, win the first place, have a new kind of program, improve one’s intelligence, create a better system, play against a human team, in a way, program…with…, make up…, after all, with the help of…

V. Writing a letter

The purpose of this piece of writing is to develop empathy in the students．They have to imagine they are androids looking after a family with one child．They need to imagine what problems and delights this android might have to deal with．Putting yourself in someone else's shoes is a very important way of understanding how other people feel．This is a very useful exercise．

T: Suppose you are an android. What would say to a spoiled child who would not do his homework? Write a letter to the boy.

Android

An android is an artificially created being that resembles a human being. The word derives from Greek Andr- ‘man, human’ and the suffix -eides used to mean ‘of the species, kind, alike’ (from eidos ‘species’).

The word droid, a robot in the Star Wars universe, is derived from this meaning. Some people maintain that, etymologically, the word android means resembling a male human and that a robot resembling a woman should logically be called a gynoid for sexist language to be avoided; however, this word is not commonly used.

Unlike the terms robot (a mechanical being) and cyborg (a being that is partly organic and partly mechanical), the word android has been used in literature and other media to denote several different kinds of man-made, autonomous creations:

a robot that closely resembles a human

a cyborg that closely resembles a human

an artificially created, yet primarily organic, being that closely resembles a human

Although essentially human morphology is not the ideal form for working robots, the fascination in developing robots that can mimic it can be found historically in the assimilation of two concepts: simulacra (devices that exhibit likeness) and automata (devices that have independence).

The term android was first used by the French author Mathias Villiers de l'Isle-Adam (1838-1889) in his work Tomorrow’s Eve, featuring a man-made human-like robot named Hadaly. As said by the officer in the story, “In this age of Realien advancement, who knows what goes on in the mind of those responsible for these mechanical dolls.” Sample writing:

Hello everybody, my name is Liu Yan．I am a 321 model android．I work for the Li family and I look after their library．My job is to store all the books that they borrow from their school or friends in my brain．Of course my brain is as large as a mountain so work like that is no trouble to me．I really eat books just like people eat food．

The Lis have a child who needs me to remember all his school textbooks so I can do his homework for him．He just gives me the information on the subject, what has to be done and the page numbers and I get on with it while he enjoys himself with his friends．Sometimes I don't think it is right to do his homework for him — it's somewhat cheating. However, his parents are very concerned at the pressure of work in school these days．The child has too much homework to do. They like him to go to the key school but they also want him to be able to have hobbies, learn to swim and keep fit! Poor child! Mr. and Mrs Li work very hard too．Mr. Li is an architect and designs great tall apartment blocks．Mrs Li is a doctor and has to look after many patients．I remember all the plans for Mr. Li's projects and can tell Mrs Li which drugs are the best to give any particular patient．Mrs Li no longer has to read all those medical journals because I can do it for her．She and Mr. Li can have some time together to enjoy life too．So they consider me the most important person in the family after themselves．I am always introduced to their friends and play with visiting children．I am the perfect family academic aid and, although I was not cheap to buy, Mr. Li says I was worth every yuan!